Tips for a warm winter

The ongoing situation in Ukraine is causing gas prices to rise. We will introduce you to various devices and give you some tips on how to stay warm in winter without driving up your gas bills.

Autumn is almost here and while it’s getting colder outside, you want to keep it warm inside your own four walls. However, due to the war in Ukraine, saving is the motto. the Energy flat rate of 300 euros will ultimately not be enough for many households to cover the rising costs. We have tips and product recommendations for you, with which you can be so cheap and as warm as possible through the winter comes.

Small household gadgets

The insulation makes the difference

With a Insulation on doors and windows a lot can already be achieved: The temperature in the interior remains more stable, and in turn the air from the outside no longer penetrates the apartment as easily.

Another advantage: You don’t have to be a skilled craftsman to install appropriate insulation. For less than 20 euros (view at Amazon) you get 15 meters of sealing tape that is easy to attach thanks to the self-adhesive side.

by the way: To test whether windows and doors need insulation, all you have to do is put a piece of paper in between. If you cannot pull it out again when the window or door is closed, it is tight enough (source: Consumer Center).

Easily vent the heater

If it gets too cold and you decide to turn up the heating, you may hear a gurgle. That’s the sign that too much air in the heater is what can happen, among other things, when the heating water is topped up. But you don’t always have to call the mechanic.

With the cheap Bleed kit from Petitone (view at Amazon) you can take care of the problem yourself. Clever: The splashing water that comes your way when you turn on the heating is immediately caught. In addition, the service is praised in the Amazon reviews – so perfect for amateurs.

Petitone heater vent

The price may be higher now. Price as of 03/10/2022 04:52

What temperature is sufficient? How do I ventilate properly? We’ll give you tips and tricks on how to reduce your heating costs:

Clever heating with smart thermostats

If you want to keep an eye on the heating temperature, a thermostat is the solution. There are already smart models that you can control with the app on your smartphone. Homematic IP offers a Set with 2 thermostats and a WLAN access point (view at Amazon).

To install the heating thermostats, you simply have to unscrew the previous thermostatic heads and screw on the new ones. Finally, you can control the thermostats via the WLAN access point control via app on your smartphone.

In the reviews on Amazon, both the assembly and the operation of the devices are praised. Although the price is a bit higher, the set is worth it Control heating in the house more efficiently and reduce costs accordingly.

Keep warm without heating

From electric blankets to hot water bottles

But if you want to keep heating costs as low as possible, you can use the Purchase of a heating blanket think. At Otto you can get an XXL blanket (200 × 150 centimeters) for less than 70 euros (see Otto). The model offers different heating levels so that you can keep yourself optimally warm. You don’t have to worry about maintenance either, as you can simply wash the blanket.

If you don’t want to do without a warm bed, you should a heated underblanket (see Otto’s, 150 × 80 centimetres). This is essentially a power-driven seat heater for your bed. Of course, the underbed can also be used for other purposes: there are numerous ideas in the Amazon reviews, from a heated sofa to a warm office chair for the home office. There are no limits to your imagination and the possible uses.

The underblanket is washable like the electric blanket and you can use a wired remote control to regulate the 3-stage temperature and switch the underblanket on and off. According to the buyers, the only point of criticism is that the product takes time to warm up. If you fall asleep, you don’t have to be afraid of overheating: the underbed switches off automatically after 3 hours.

Medisana heated underblanket (150 x 80 cm)

The price may be higher now. Price as of 03/10/2022 02:52

Would you rather generate electricity yourself? Then a balcony power plant would be an idea. You can find out everything you need to know in our video:

And if it can be something more classic, we want it the good old hot water bottle do not forget. For less than 20 euros you can get fairly and sustainably produced models from the Sänger brand (view them at Avocadostore). The hot water bottle is made of natural rubber and is free of plastic and plasticizers. In total, it holds 2 liters of water.

Kotatsu – table instead of heating

Imagine that your apartment is neither well insulated nor equipped with heating. Sounds absurd? In Japan this is completely normal and people are still not cold. Your solution is the Kotatsu – a heated table.

The principle is very simple: the small table is placed in the middle of the apartment and radiates its warmth from there. When the family is cold, they can just gather around the table on the floor and the ceiling connected to the table pull over You can see the Kotatsu on Amazon – but for a current price of over 700 euros, you have to dig deep into your pockets.

Although the invention from Japan is really practical, especially if you want to save gas, you should still decide individually whether the investment is worthwhile. Since the table is powered by electricity, one should the rising electricity costs don’t neglect.